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I played with Kane but little-known Prem midfielder was my best best team-mate

08 May 2024 , 17:02
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He played for nine different clubs and TWO international teams
He played for nine different clubs and TWO international teams

A FORMER England strike partner of Harry Kane has snubbed the star when naming the best player they’ve played with.

This forward was once tipped to be the next best thing after coming through the ranks at West Brom.

Saido Berahino and Harry Kane were strike partners for England U21s qhiqquiqqkideqprw
Saido Berahino and Harry Kane were strike partners for England U21sCredit: Getty
The striker burst on the scene at West Brom then endured a nightmare at Stoke
The striker burst on the scene at West Brom then endured a nightmare at StokeCredit: Getty

He burst onto the scene with ten goals in 23 games while on loan at Northampton and Brentford.

A further stint out at Peterborough followed before Saido Berahino finally got his Premier League breakthrough in the 2013/14 campaign.

The now 30-year-old scored nine times that season but followed it up with 20 the following term.

Schools at risk of closing as teachers prepare to vote on joining strike chaosSchools at risk of closing as teachers prepare to vote on joining strike chaos

Having already represented England at U17 level and at the 2012 U19 European Championship, his hot club form gained him further international recognition.

Gareth Southgate called him up to his U21 side where he and Kane, who has gone on to be his country’s all-time top scorer, were both in attack.

Berahino was even voted the 2014 U21 Player of the Year by supporters, receiving 16 per cent more votes than the now Three Lions skipper and Bayern Munich star.

The pair could even have been strike partners at club level as Tottenham had a £22m transfer bid rejected by West Brom in August 2015.

Having failed to secure his big move away, the goals dried up that season as he hit only seven and then drew a complete blank in 2016/17 after more bids from Stoke and Crystal Palace were rejected.

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Finally, he secured his exit from the Hawthorns in January 2017 in a £15m deal to Stoke but it turned into a nightmare.

He failed to score for the Potters until August 2018, but he would only score another four that despite Stoke now plying their trade in the Championship.

Berahino’s England hopes had also ended by this point - although he had become a firm fixture in the Burundi squad by then and featured at the African Nations Cup.

That summer he ended up attempting to reignite his career in Belgium with top-flight minnows Waregem, scoring six in 18 appearances.

Guardiola picks side on BODY LANGUAGE as he tells Foden why he’s been on benchGuardiola picks side on BODY LANGUAGE as he tells Foden why he’s been on bench

After starting the next season with them, he switched to Charleroi on loan before a brief return to Waregem.

Berahino came back to England in 2021 for a season with Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored eight times.

He has been plying his trade in Cyprus since leaving Hillsborough the following year and is still at AEL Limassol these days.

Berahino has represented nine clubs and two countries throughout his well-travelled career, playing with literally hundreds of different players.

But rather than choose Kane, it was a Scottish international that he opted for when he was quizzed in a Q&A on X about the best player that he has played with.

“Graham Dorrans,” was his almost instant reply.

The now 37-year-old spent seven years at West Brom from 2008 and later two years at Norwich.

He headed back to Scotland in 2017 to join Rangers and then Dundee prior to a stint in Australia.

While Dorrans remained his pick throughout the Q&A as the question was asked several times, he looked a lot closer to home when asked about “the best and worst team mate”.

Berahino replied: “Best dorrans. Worst myself.”

Graham Dorrans was a huge favourite with fans at West Brom
Graham Dorrans was a huge favourite with fans at West BromCredit: Getty

Gary Stonehouse

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